In an essay for The Guardian, Waters said: “To perform in Israel is a lucrative gig but to do so serves to normalize the occupation, the apartheid, the ethnic cleansing, the incarceration of children, the slaughter of unarmed protesters … all that bad stuff.”

The former Pink Floyd musician has for some time encouraged artists to boycott Israel over its treatment of Palestinians. Lorde and Elvis Costello are among those who have cancelled gigs in Israel.

Water said the people of Palestine “live under a deeply repressive apartheid regime of occupation and do not enjoy the right to life, liberty and self-determination.”

He added: “I suppose I’m calling on everyone involved in what I see as Eurovision’s betrayal of our joint humanity to focus on their capacity to empathize with their Palestinian brothers and sisters.”

Madonna has not publicly commented on her Eurovision appearance and has not addressed Waters' views.